Sheffield Wednesday: Owls midfielder urges focus for run-in

Dom Howson

Barry Bannan is demanding the Owls forget their Bristol City pasting and focus on themselves as they bid to secure a play-off spot.

The influential midfielder believes their 4-1 thumping at Ashton Gate was a “minor blip”, insisting Wednesday remain well-equipped to qualify for the end of season knockout tournament.

Following their heaviest defeat of the campaign, Carlos Carvalhal’s charges slipped to sixth in the Championship, although they still hold a healthy five-point lead over closest rivals Cardiff City in the battle to finish in the play-off positions.

Bannan is optimistic Wednesday will quickly put things right, starting at home to Ipswich Town today.

“We are in pole position,” the Scotland international told The Star. “It is up to us to keep winning games and we will be in play-offs.

“We’ve just got to worry about ourselves. We have to focus on our performances. If we do that and do things in the right way, then we will be in there.

“We are looking to finish as high as we can. We will try to win all five and see where we finish. We just need to do our jobs, keep our concentration and work as hard as we can and hopefully that will get us over the line.”